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Charles Horton, chief executive officer of Southern parent company Govia-Thameslink Railway , said: "Passengers will be rightly furious these wholly unnecessary and unjustified strikes have been called in the run up to Christmas and in the New Year.

"The travelling public has endured months of misery and seen their work and family lives turned upside down by RMT's futile industrial action with conductors.

"Now ASLEF and the drivers want to compound that suffering by joining the fray in launching more pointless strikes."

The RMT will hold three periods of strike action over the festive season (Photo: Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Reflecting on the DOO switch, Mr Horton added: "It’s perfectly safe for the driver to have sole responsibility for the operation of a modern train.

"That's how a third of the trains up and down the country - with the full agreement and support of ASLEF - already operate today."

'Unnecessary grief'

Mr Horton said the strikes would have a "devastating impact" on the south east economy and people's everyday lives by bringing the Southern network to a standstill.

"We urge the union to get round the table with us to continue our talks and resolve their dispute without causing further unnecessary grief to passengers," he said.

"Passengers have made it crystal clear that they want an end to these strikes. Both the RMT and ASLEF should take stock and listen, if not to us, then at least to the travelling public.

"Let's end these strikes now without further suffering."

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In a statement, ASLEF said: "ASLEF members on Southern Rail have voted overwhelmingly for strike action in a trade dispute over the company’s decision to force through driver only operation on the franchise.

"We say there should be no introduction and/or extension of new driver-only operated routes on Southern without the agreement of ASLEF."